Shopping Around

• When learning about room dividers and the different options that are available on the market, it is important that you shop to find the right one for your space. The materials and decorating styles that are available seem to be endless. Many screens come in all different types of wood (stained and/or painted) as well as in different metals. Utilizing Internet websites that offer reviews, (see Resource section for more information) as well checking the different styles in person at local home improvement and furniture stores, will offer you the best chance of getting something that fits the style and scale of your home. Making sure that it is not too small where it won't fulfill it's purpose, or too large where it will overwhelm the rest of the decor, is hard to gauge from just a picture. If you must do your shopping completely online, make sure to get exact measurements before you buy.
  
  

Making Your Own

• If you can't seem to find what you are looking for, the nice thing about room dividers is that there is always the option of making your own. There is a wealth of information online, as well as in print, that gives you step-by-step instructions on how to go about doing this. Going this route will add a personalized touch to your space, as well as ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for. You can customize the look, the hardware and the size to fit perfectly into any interior decorating scheme and size.
  
  

Open Shelving

• When trying to make a room do double duty, another great way to divide the space is to use open shelving or bookcases. This is especially popular in smaller living spaces that can't be cut off visually because of the risk of a claustrophobic feeling to the area. There are options available such as floating shelving, where it is literally suspended from the ceiling and actually seems to open up the area instead of closing it in.
  
  

Using Furniture

• Another nice thing about room dividers is that they do not have to be your standard screens or bookshelves or any "wall-like" structures. When stepping back, trying to find a way to divide one of your spaces into two distinct areas, look around to see if you don't already have what you need. For example, if you have the room to pull the couch out to the middle of the floor and put a sofa table behind it, this will create a living area in front of the couch; as well as one behind it. If you switch out the sofa table for a desk of the same scale, you can easily create a small home office without an extra room. (See Resource section for more great ideas.)
  
  

Considerations

• When trying to find the perfect way to divide your space into two distinct areas, it's important that you consider all of your options. Learning about room dividers isn't just about looking through a bunch of screens; it's about finding a way to open up all of the decorating and functional possibilities that your home has to offer.